Red Horse Inn
Falmouth, Massachusetts
www.redhorseinn.com

SBDC CLIENT, RED HORSE INN, CHOSEN '2005 BEST OF CAPE COD'

The idea behind the Red Horse Inn in Falmouth started eight years ago, when entrepreneurs Eleacia and Bob Fredette began buying small houses and fixing them up. Their biggest purchase came three years ago, when the Fredettes became the new owners of the Red Horse Inn. Bob Fredette came to the MSBDC Network’s Southeastern Massachusetts office in March 2004 seeking advice on increasing revenues. The MSBDC’s senior management counselor, Cliff Robbins, assisted Fredette with designing and implementing a new comprehensive marketing plan. Additionally, in order to increase his understanding of his business, Fredette also attended a 12-week NxLeveL training session, taught by Robbins, in order to write a better business plan.

When the Fredettes purchased the Red Horse Inn, Room 5 was referred to as the "punishment room" by the housekeeping team. This room was consistently the last to be rented due to its old motel style furnishings with orange and brown decor. The Fredettes decided to take the Red Horse Inn’s "worst" room and make it its best room. Room 5 now boasts new hardwood floors, a whirlpool tub, fireplace... Revenues at the Red Horse Inn have climbed steadily allowing the Fredettes the ability to make improvements to the rooms and the grounds. These improvements had led the way to being chosen as the 2005 Best of Cape Cod by Cape Cod Life Magazine and as Spotlight Entrepreneurs from the Boston Globe. Currently, there are 22 rooms at the Red House Inn. During this past winter, 10 more rooms were renovated. The Fredettes have 12 more rooms awaiting renewal. More such updating is scheduled for this season.

In addition to the Red Horse Inn, Bob and Eleacia Fredette also own Distinctive Property Services, Inc. (www.distinctiveprops.com). Through this business, the Fredettes offer what they have learned at their inn and through their construction business, to other properties in the Falmouth area.

Over the years, the Fredettes have purchased twenty houses and have renovated and resold many of them. Some of these properties were kept as rental properties. At the time of purchase, some of these houses were in dire need of repair. In their renovations, the Fredettes often found themselves tearing down the walls and rebuilding them. While this took a great deal of effort, these rundown houses are now beautiful homes. “This” say the Fredettes “is an accomplishment of which we are proud”.

“The level of expertise offered to small business owners through the SBDC has been invaluable to us. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to have such fantastic resources available to us. We will continue to use these resources as we grow both of our companies. Thank you!”  [signed] Eleacia and Bob Fredette